Ch7
Rama was happy with Sita. After many years he was finally crowned king with Sita by his side.
"Nothing will separate us dear," Sita said kissing him on the cheek. "We will rule justly and the world will know of our love."
"Of course dear," he said kissing her back. His heart he wanted to cry in joy as he embraced her.
The ruled happily at first he thought nothing could go wrong. But then the rumors started coming back. At first he didn't know what was going on but one day while they were riding past a group of people a washerman frowned.
"How could the great Rama take his wife back after she had lived in the house of another man?" This washerman said.
He gripped his fists but ignored the comment. They don't understand our love. I will stand by her, I know she is loyal.
Yet gossip spread. Commoners and their filthy tongues spread rumors, he didn't his best to ignore them but one day upon seeing Sita sad and that made him angry.
"Damn untouchables!" he yelled slamming his fist into his throne. "To think that they can gossip about my Sita like this?" His blood boiled, he fought hard for his work and done everything yet these lowly gossipers dare spread rumors about his wife's fidelity?"
"How dare they question my decision to make her queen," he seethed. Sadly it wasn't just some commoners gossiping, he had been noticing the way some nobility had been eying Sita with disgust.
His advisers lowered their gazes, they dare not mention anything negative about Sita to him. If I could I would have their tongues cut out for this insolence.
You have to do your duty. His father's words echoed in his head. He ran to his room and cried knowing deep down what must be done. I sent her away once why must I do it again?
Yet deep down his heart, the words ring in his head. You have to do your duty to your people.
But deep down he knew that he had his duties as king to fulfill. "My citizens won't be happy with her," he muttered to himself. A queen must be above any and all gossip and rumors. He cried out in pain, his heart knowing the decision he would have to make.
When Sita came to his court she looked at him in surprise. "Rama what is it?"
He sat on his throne rigidly. "Sita these rumors cannot be quelled." He swallowed the lump in his throat Sita stared at him in disbelief.
"Rama I already proved myself once," she said looking at him. "I swear that I never allowed him to touch me. Why must you listen to these rumors?"
Her words were accusatory, they cut through his heart. He wanted to cry but he was a king, it was his duty to put the demands of the realm and his people above his own.
"I'm sorry," he said softly. "But as a king I have my duty."
Sita avoided his gaze. "I understand." Her voice was soft the sadness barely notable.
His heart broke he wanted to cry but he forced himself to speak. "You must leave Sita."
Rama took a deep breath as the cold night around him. The sound of the waves was calming but his body was tense as he walked along the beach path.
"Irisviel stay behind me. This fight will not be easy for me," he said as a wave hit the sandy beach.
"I know," Irisviel said looking around. "I know you can win though."
"I won't lose," he said as she saw a figure approaching them. I'm coming Sita. We will soon be together and nothing will separate us I promise.
Lancer approached them with a terrifying grin. "So you came?" She said her red eyes peering into him. "I had to admit you have balls coming here to face me." Pointing her lance at him she laughed. "To think that I would face off against a god? The holy grail really is something."
He drew his sword and assumed a fighting stance. "Then I Saber Rama King of Kosala and Avatar of Vishnu will gladly accept your call for a fight."
"Bring it on punk," Lancer said. A flash of light enveloped her and soon she was wearing bright golden armor. "I'm Caenis and will gladly take you godly ass down."
"Bring it on," he said gripping his sword tightly. He threw a few chakrams at her only for Lancer to effortlessly deflect the attack.
"Don't think I'll die that easily," Lancer laughed. "You'll need more than some flimsy chakrams to kill me."
She has a point I'll have to use my other weapons. Lancer charged at him, she was quicker now but he managed to block her attack. The two exchanged blows, he managed to avoided her blows but she was quicker.
She was favored by Poseidon. Fighting her here wasn't a good idea. Lancer came at him and hit him with her shield sending him flying to the ground.
"Come on Saber don't tell me that you are still thinking of holding back? You'll die if you don't put up a fight," Lancer sneered as she spun her spear and lunged at him.
He got up and parried the attack. "Don't worry I have many weapons at my disposal." Vishnu give me your strength and wisdom. He ran and jumped summoning a javelin made of pure energy in his hand he through it at Caenis.
Lancer blocked it with her shield causing an explosion to ripple through the air. I'll take you down Lancer then I'll be one step closer to gaining Sita. He threw more chakrams at her, each one blue up with the intensity of a small bomb as they hit her shield.
The problem was that Lancer's feet remained in the water the entire time. I have to get her out of there if there is any chance that I can injure her. He summoned his whip and tried to rip the shield from her hands but she grabbed and swung him into the water.
Damn it I can't risk using Brahamastra again. Using it too many times can be bad for humanity. He swam up above the waves and coughed.
The image of Sita passed through his head. I love you. I'll do anything to get you back.
He stood up and faced Lancer the waves of the ocean enveloped them. Sita I'll save you. We'll be together again.
Come on Lancer you can do this. Kayneth sat in his wheelchair watching the two servants fight. It was a very impressive sight a fight most would've loved to watch but right now he was nervous. Saber is the god Rama, as much as she hates gods I fear her anger will get the best of her. Can she even take his noble phantasm?
As much as she disliked the ocean Caenis insisted upon organizing the fight here. She knows that to go up against a god she must use the gifts of a god, even the one she despises the most.
She told him that due to Poseidon's favor, she received his blessing and was basically unstoppable in the water. It wasn't something she like to use often but it did come in handy, especially against really tough opponents.
He watched in awe as the two servants fought. Caenis fought with the ferocity of a wild lion, it was a beautiful sight watching her and Saber exchange blows. She really is a proud warrior. "Come on I know you can do this," he muttered gripping his armrests tightly. "Show him who the boss is."
She is still being cautious, not that I blame her. Hinduism had various weapons that could end the world. Saber's noble phantasm at full blast can cause a lot of damage to our reality.
Leaning over he wanted to shout out some words of encouragement but he knew that she would probably yell at him for bothering her. "Come on do it," he muttered as he watched Saber dodge Caenis's attack.
He was so absorbed in watching the attack he didn't notice an envelope being thrown at him. "What is this?" Curiously he picked up the envelope and turned around and his eyes went wide.
Kiritsugu Emiya stood not far from him, his gun pointed at a blood Sola Ui. His body shook as he made eye contact with the mage killer who indicated for him to open the letter.
Hands trembling he opened it to reveal a binding Self Geis Scroll, an absolute agreement which will render a mage permanently unable to perform sorcery if ever broken. His hands shook as he read the letter. Order Lancer to kill herself and neither you nor your fiancé shall not personally die at my hands.
He read the scroll over and over again. A way out all I have to do it order her to kill herself. The scroll was authentic, he looked at his command seals and up at Lancer. I shouldn't have fought in this war but for her to die in such a degrading fashion? It was a sliver of doubt, he was a selfish man but Caenis was a proud warrior who stood up for him when he had nothing.
He heard the gun cock, Kiritsugu was getting impatient. He looked over at his fiancé who lay unconscious. She never did love me. In fact I imagine she would've run off with someone else by now.
The memory of how Lancer saved him ran through his head. Despite everything, Lancer was still with him. Deep down something stirred in him. Caenis was many things but she was a proud and calculating warrior.
She's in the water, there is the possibility she'd resist or reject the spell and come after me for betraying her. His body shook at the thought of Caenis' anger. She'd blast me as a fool.
Could he trust this guy who was known for being a no nonsense mage killer? He looked at Caenis battling Rama and he could already tell what she would say.
Gulping down the lump in his throat he met the mage killer's gaze and slowly nodded. He took a pen out of his pocket and pretended to write his name as he activated the command spell.
Damn this son of a bitch won't die. Caenis continued her assault on Saber, she was still unscathed but her opponent still on his feet. She was ready to kill this godly brat then she would go after the others.
Lancer save me from Saber's master. The power of the command seal resonated throughout her body.
It took her by surprise, her master was a weakling who never asked for help even when he needed it. Must be serious. She followed the instructions of the spell and immediately teleported to where her master was. In a flash she was by his side spear and shield in her hands as she stared off Saber's master who had a gun pointed at that bitch of fiancé her master was engaged to.
"Lancer protect me!" Kayneth screamed just a gun began to fire.
She quickly covered her master with her shield and thrusted her spear at him.
Saber's master quickly raised Sola Ui's body as a shield. Like I care about her. She thrusted her spear through Sola Ui taking Kiritsugu by surprise as she grazed his arm.
"NO!" Kayneth screamed as Sola Ui's body fell to the ground and Saber's master jumped a few feet away.
"Master I'm here!" Saber yelled as he ran in front of them.
"Ballsy move," she laughed. "Going after my master's fiancé. Let me guess you probably were trying to make some sort of deal with him? Like kill me and he'll go free?"
She laughed as she picked her master up and pointed her spear at Saber's master. "I know all about those kinds of contracts." Hearing the sound of a gun click in the distance she smiled at Saber's master. "Contracts are always full of loopholes."
Ignoring Kayneth's protests she hid him under her shield as she charged at the sound of a gunshot not far from them. Here you are you little shit. Her spear broke through the clocking spells and pierced the body of a female sniper killing her as her spear made contact with her heart.
"Maiya!" He heard Saber's master scream.
She let the lifeless body fall before kicking it to Saber whose wide eyes were wide with shock.. "Nice tricks," she said before jumping away. "Good to know that your master would've killed my master either way."
She noticed Kayneth stared at the body in shock but he said nothing to her as she gripped him tightly and made a run for it.
"Saber she's dead," Kayenth muttered as she ran through the waves.
"They never would've let either of you live," She said. "I don't sense Saber coming after us but we shouldn't take any chances. They intended to kill you both and leave you dead."
Her master nodded avoiding her gaze. "Thank you," he said softly for once the pride in his voice was gone and a small once of sincerity in its place.